Buckeye man arrested for allegedly pulling AR-15 during road rage incident

PHOENIX – A 32-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after police say he pointed an AR-15 style rifle at another driver during a Buckeye road rage incident in a parking lot.

Erik French was booked into jail on a felony charge of disorderly conduct with a weapon.

Buckeye police responded to Watson Road and Sundance Avenue around 1 p.m.

A woman reported that French, driving a Jeep Gladiator, nearly struck her car while backing out of a parking spot. When she honked her horn, French allegedly responded by getting out of his Jeep, pulling an AR-15 style rifle from the back seat and pointed it at her, according to police.

The woman drove away and called 911.

Officers used license plate reader technology from the department’s Real Time Information Center to track the suspect down. They found French nearby. The rifle was seized during the arrest, police said.

Buckeye PD credit the victim for no one being injured.

“Because of her actions, no one was hurt and officers were able to make a swift arrest,” Buckeye PD said.

Buckeye police urged anyone involved in a road rage incident to leave the area, find a safe location and call 911 immediately.

French has not yet entered a plea.

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